Gender Roles in Traditional and Modern Minangkabau Kaba: An Analysis of Ten Selected Narratives

Abstract

This research aims to investigate how gender roles are portrayed in Minangkabau kaba, which are traditional folktales from West Sumatra, Indonesia. The study investigates how gender norms are portrayed, perpetuated, and questioned within these cultural texts by qualitatively analyzing ten chosen kaba. These kaba include both traditional and contemporary storylines. This research uses structuralist and semiotic techniques to analyze themes, character roles, and symbolic representations associated with gender. The results of the study demonstrate that there has been a substantial change in the depiction of gender roles from the traditional to the contemporary kaba. Modern kaba, on the other hand, challenges these stereotypes by showing women in important roles who are empowered, in contrast to conventional tales, which often support preexisting gender standards. This study contributes to the knowledge of how folklore reflects and changes social values. It also provides insights into the dynamic interaction between cultural narratives and the debate on gender equality in Minangkabau culture.